Samsung never got caught up in the “modular phone” trend that companies like Motorola, Google, and LG were drawn into. But, the company did try out methods to enhance functionality through cases – such as the Lens Cover that we recently discussed in an article from a few weeks back.
Today, we’re going to take a look at a different cover from the same time period – the Keyboard Cover for the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5, both released in 2015.
The Keyboard Cover on the Galaxy Note5
This was a detachable QWERTY keyboard (with different layouts) that attached to the front of the phone, covering the lower third of the screen where the on-screen keyboard typically resides. It provided physical keys for touch typing and included the three button navigation that Samsung still utilizes today.
The keyboard came as part of a two-piece set featuring a case that protected the back of the phone and kept the keyboard secure. It’s worth noting that there was no need to plug anything in or charge any batteries – the keyboard used the capacitive touchscreen underneath to sense keypresses.
The Keyboard Cover on the Galaxy Note5
It may not be as advanced as you’d expect, but it made the most of multi-touch support. For example, you could use the Alt key to input digits without needing a dedicated number row. On-screen keyboards require long-press gestures to access alternative symbols (e.g., punctuation), making typing faster.
Once done typing, users could unclip the keyboard from the front and attach it to the back of the phone. It was also small enough to fit into a pocket.
The Keyboard Cover for the Galaxy S7 edge
At that time, there were limited choices if you wanted a QWERTY phone. Makers had to gamble on building a phone that may not succeed in the market. The Keyboard Cover offered both – users could get one of the top-selling phones of 2015 with minimal risk for Samsung. It also came in black, silver, and gold, with a price tag of $80.
It seems that the Keyboard Cover did well enough (or perhaps Samsung was just patient), as the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge also came with Keyboard Covers when released in 2016.
The Keyboard Cover for the Galaxy S7/S7 edge
In 2017, Samsung launched the Galaxy S8 and S8+ with a third-generation Keyboard Cover at the MWC.
The Galaxy S8 and S8+ also got Keyboard Covers
After that, Samsung never released a Keyboard Cover for the Galaxy S9 generation. This was a longer run than the Lens Cover, which was a one-time thing.
We have seen ongoing efforts to bring back physical keyboards for smartphones. One of the latest examples is the Clicks keyboard for the iPhone 14 Pro, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max, which was revealed at CES in January.
The Clicks keyboard Cover for iPhones
This is a one-piece case, making it challenging to remove and put on. However, it doesn’t cover the screen, though it does make the phone quite tall. This design was necessary since Samsung could modify the TouchWiz UI to accommodate the keyboard, whereas Apple’s iOS is too restrictive for such modifications.
So, what do you think? Have on-screen keyboards surpassed physical ones, or should we consider accessories like the Keyboard Cover to return to the use of physical keyboards?
